--- title: "Promising Young Woman: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/promising-young-woman/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/promising-young-woman" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 29 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Promising Young Woman (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 29 reviews: 24 positive, 4 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like it, and for the same two things. Carey Mulligan’s performance as Cassie is praised in nearly every review, described variously as ice-cold, electric and chameleon-like, and often credited with carrying the film through its harder turns. Emerald Fennell’s debut direction is the other point of agreement: the sugary colours, the black comedy and the trick of dressing a revenge story as a romantic comedy are widely read as confident, with a real point to make about rape culture and self-declared nice guys. The reservations cluster on tone and ending. Even admiring reviews note choppy shifts between comedy and dread, and the climax is called divisive, muddled or bleak by critics who recommend the film. The spread is narrow. The New York Times finds the film backs away from its premise and turns trauma into a joke, and Paste, the lone negative review, thinks the vengeance plays as anticlimactic and on-the-nose, though even there Mulligan is praised. ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 4/5/5. 3 February 2021. The critic hails the ferocious lead turn by Carey Mulligan that super-charges this shocking, outspoken debut. It singles out the hyper-stylised aesthetic and unflinching honesty in confronting rape culture, the justice system and survivor support. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/promising-young-woman) ## Empire — Sophie Monks Kaufman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 April 2021. Fennell’s debut is a wolf in sheep’s clothing: a revenge drama disguised as a romcom, with molten fury and grief beneath its glossy surface. It skewers rape apologist culture through pitch-black humour and an extraordinary, self-possessed Mulligan performance. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/promising-young-woman/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 April 2021. Fennell’s confident debut uses sugary colours and humour to deliver strong medicine about sexual assault and rape culture. Mulligan’s Cassie is an invigorating, wise, vulnerable and unpredictable heroine unlike any other. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/promising-young-woman-review-emerald-fennell-carey-mulligan-b929748.html) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2021. The critic praises the film's witty, stylish take on the rape-revenge genre as a timely #MeToo statement that skewers everyday predation and complicity with sharp social commentary. Mulligan's chameleon-like performance is singled out as the propulsive, emotionally rich center. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/promising-young-woman-emerald-fennell-carey-mulligan) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2021. The critic praises the film as a playfully provocative and ingenious rape-revenge satire that unpicks entitlement and victimhood with a stiletto jab. Carey Mulligan delivers an ice-cold, demurely brilliant performance as the scheming protagonist Cassandra. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/apr/15/promising-young-woman-review-carey-mulligan) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2020. Festival review. The critic calls it a gutsy and pertinent debut that shows real nerve in taking a commonplace story to unexpected extremes. Fennell demonstrates skill as a storyteller and commentator on gender dynamics, with Mulligan carrying the film through a demanding role as a self-pitying woman turned avenger. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/promising-young-woman-review-1272937/) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2021. The critic describes it as a masterly tale of vengeance that crackles and fizzes with style, wit and blackly humorous subtext, crediting Emerald Fennell with a gobsmacking display of authorial nous in her feature debut. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/promising-young-woman-review-a-masterly-tale-of-vengeance-vxfvxp5g7) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2021. Carey Mulligan delivers an electric performance in this blackly comic #MeToo revenge thriller fuelled by righteous fury. The film challenges genre expectations while rooting its story in the repercussions of trauma and the scars left by absent justice. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/promising-young-woman-review/) ## Radio Times — Emma Simmonds Rating 4/5. The critic lauds the candy-hued, acid-tongued revenge fantasy that savagely takes 'nice guys' to task with panache and forceful points, including criticism of unsisterly women. Mulligan is highlighted as a wildly persuasive central presence. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-zfews7/promising-young-woman/) ## RogerEbert.com — Brian Tallerico Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2021. Festival review. The critic praises the film's ambitious, tonal swings and dark humor as fitting for its traumatized protagonist, highlighting Mulligan's phenomenal performance and Fennell's confident direction that swings for the fences rather than playing it safe. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/promising-young-woman-2020) ## The Telegraph Rating 4/5. The review calls it the Basic Instinct for the #MeToo generation: horribly gripping, deeply sad, and directed skilfully by Emerald Fennell, with Carey Mulligan lighting up a controversial gem through feminist revenge. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/promising-young-woman-review-carey-mulligans-feminist-revenge-movie/) ## Variety — Dennis Harvey Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2020. Festival review. The critic calls it an arresting, blackly comedic quasi-thriller that upends expectations in a MeToo-era revenge fantasy, noting it is compelling despite being somewhat uneven and stirring debate. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/promising-young-woman-review-1203480660/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2020. Festival review. The critic describes a campy feminist revenge story that turns profoundly unsettling, crediting Mulligan with bringing emotional weight to the material while noting tonal unwieldiness and a shocking climax. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/promising-young-woman-sundance-review/5146510.article) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2020. The critic describes the film as diabolically clever yet cartoonishly exaggerated, praising how it inspires righteous outrage and empathy while noting that Cassie's solitary devotion remains abstract. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/promising-young-woman) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2020. Festival review. The film is an incendiary revenge saga coated in hyperfemininity, with Mulligan outstanding as the vigilante protagonist. It presents a portrait of righteous rage that is unsettling and unresolvable, though the sentiments feel unexamined and the conclusion provocative. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/promising-young-woman-movie-review-carey-mulligan.html) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 20 April 2021. The film has flaws and an irregular tone but offers value as a #MeToo revenge story that could be eye-opening for teenagers, especially young men, by confronting rape culture and complacency directly. Mulligan’s performance is the standout element. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/promising-young-woman-metoo-carey-mulligan-b1786542.html) ## Time Out — Katie McCabe Rating 3/5. 15 April 2021. The critic calls it an ambitious, zeitgeisty revenge thriller with powerful opening sequences and strong Mulligan chemistry in the romance, but notes tonal unevenness, laboured dialogue and a divisive, bleak ending. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/promising-young-woman-2021) ## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2020. The critic finds the film turns sociopathy into a style and trauma into a joke, noting that it too often backs away from its potentially searing setup despite a strong premise about consent and revenge. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/movies/promising-young-woman-review.html) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A. 26 January 2020. Festival review. The critic hails the film as an incendiary, angry work that confronts rape culture and complicity with unapologetic fury. They single out Carey Mulligan's lead performance and Fennell's assured direction and script for particular praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/promising-young-woman-review-carey-mulligan/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2020. The critic calls Mulligan's performance a tour-de-force that cements her as one of the greats and praises Fennell's assured debut as a twisty black comedy/suspense thriller. He highlights the film's balanced tone and its post-MeToo message about men and women. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/video/promising-young-woman-review-carey-mulligan-emerald-fennell/) ## /Film — Ariel Fisher Rating 8.5/10. 14 December 2020. A deeply unsettling film that functions as horror rooted in real tragedy, with a brutal necessary message about rape culture and accountability; strong performances especially from Mulligan and Burnham, and provocative in its subjectivity of fear. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/578349/promising-young-woman-review/) ## Den of Geek — Rosie Fletcher Rating 4/5. 24 December 2020. The critic calls it a compelling modern female take on the revenge subgenre with a distinct visual style, excellent cast, and strong points about toxic masculinity. Mulligan's performance is mesmerizing, though the ending may divide audiences. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/promising-young-woman-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 2020. Festival review. Fennell explores the lasting effects of traumatic events with care in this mix of revenge drama and romantic comedy, never making light of the situation even amid comedy; Mulligan demonstrates strong comic timing while gripping her damaged character. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/promising-young-woman-2020-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## NME — Beth Webb Rating 4/5. 12 April 2021. The critic praises Fennell's satirical voice and Mulligan's sharp performance in this darkly funny revenge thriller that exposes rape culture. It elevates above a sermon on misogyny but loses some nerve in the muddled climax. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/promising-young-woman-review-carey-mulligan-2918862) ## The Playlist — Jason Bailey Rating B. 26 January 2020. Festival review. A darkly funny and wildly provocative revenge thriller with a sustained howl of rage, strong lead performances from Mulligan and Burnham, and subversive energy, though it has some flaws like flagging energy in the second half. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/promising-young-woman-sundance-review-20200126/) ## Digital Spy — Gabriella Geisinger Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 April 2021. The critic describes it as a thrilling revenge fantasy with a bright, neon-soaked aesthetic and strong tension, distinguishing it from typical entries in the genre. Mulligan's performance anchors the film, though its bold style may not appeal to all viewers. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a35053923/promising-young-woman-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2020. The critic describes the film as an unapologetically bold thriller with an electric Mulligan performance and a packed script full of surprises. Some narrative turns feel extraneous and tone shifts are choppy, but it has promise in its message and ambition. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/promising-young-woman-film-review-carey-mulligan-thriller-metoo-era/) ## HeyUGuys — Jack Hawkins Rating 3/5. 8 March 2021. The critic finds the film an entertaining but improbable revenge fantasy that mixes exploitation and issue drama, praising Mulligan's performance and the twist ending but criticizing its lack of insight into real trauma. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/promising-young-woman-review/) ## Paste — Andy Crump Rating 5.9. 23 December 2020. The critic finds the film's vengeance approach anticlimactic and overly on-the-nose, dragging subtext to the surface while lacking logical depth or satisfying payoff. They praise Mulligan's committed performance and the film's pacing and direction but fault the writing's uncertainty. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/emerald-fennell/promising-young-woman-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/promising-young-woman.md